I want to point out that there’s something unfair that you did here. You pointed out that AI safety is more important, and that there were two doctors that left medical practice. Ryan does AI safety now, but Greg does Biosecurity, and frankly, the fact he has an MD is fairly important for his ability to interact with policymakers in the UK. So one of your examples is at least very weak, if not evidence for the opposite of what you claimed.
”A reliable way to actually do a lot of good as a doctor” doesn’t just mean not practicing; many doctors are in research, or policy, making a far greater difference—and their background in clinical medicine can be anywhere from a useful credential to being critical to their work.
Huh, I didn’t have a sense that Greg’s medical degree helped much with his work, but could totally be convinced otherwise.
Thinking more about it, I think I also just fully retract Greg as an example for other reasons. I think for many other people’s epistemic states the above goes through, but I wouldn’t personally think that he necessarily made the right call.
I want to point out that there’s something unfair that you did here. You pointed out that AI safety is more important, and that there were two doctors that left medical practice. Ryan does AI safety now, but Greg does Biosecurity, and frankly, the fact he has an MD is fairly important for his ability to interact with policymakers in the UK. So one of your examples is at least very weak, if not evidence for the opposite of what you claimed.
”A reliable way to actually do a lot of good as a doctor” doesn’t just mean not practicing; many doctors are in research, or policy, making a far greater difference—and their background in clinical medicine can be anywhere from a useful credential to being critical to their work.
Huh, I didn’t have a sense that Greg’s medical degree helped much with his work, but could totally be convinced otherwise.
Thinking more about it, I think I also just fully retract Greg as an example for other reasons. I think for many other people’s epistemic states the above goes through, but I wouldn’t personally think that he necessarily made the right call.